Two-part load control system mountable to a single electrical wallbox

ABSTRACT

A load control system includes a load control device and a remote control for configuring and controlling operation of the load control device. The load control device and remote control may be mounted to an electrical wallbox. The system may be configured by associating the remote control with the load control device, and actuating a button on the remote control to configure the load control device. A second remote control device may be directly or indirectly associated with the load control device. The load control device and remote control may communicate via inductive coils that are magnetically coupled together. The remote control may be operable to charge a battery from energy derived from the magnetic coupling between the inductive coils. The load control device and remote control may include near-field communication modules that are operable to communicate wirelessly via near-field radiation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/813,148, filed Mar. 9, 2020; which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/150,496, filed May 10, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.10,587,147 issued Mar. 10, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/598,522, filed Aug. 29, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.9,368,025 issued on Jun. 14, 2016, all of which claim the benefit ofcommonly assigned Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.61/528,492, filed on Aug. 29, 2011, the disclosures of each of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

This application is related to commonly assigned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/598,529, filed Aug. 29, 2012, entitled TWO-PART LOAD CONTROLSYSTEM MOUNTABLE TO A SINGLE ELECTRICAL WALLBOX, the disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Described herein are load control systems for controlling the amount ofpower that is delivered to an electrical load, such as a lighting load,for example. Such load control systems may be embodied in a two-partload control system that includes a load control device and a remotecontrol device that may both be mounted to a single electrical wallbox.

Description of the Related Art

Some prior art load control devices may be configured to control anelectrical load in response to direct communication from a remotecontrol device. Such load control devices may be difficult to configurebased on the location of the load control device after installation. Forexample, the load control device may be installed in a ceiling, behind awall, or in another difficult-to-reach or remote location. In such priorart systems, the user needs to access the load control device by hand toconfigure the device to respond to communications from a remote controldevice. This, of course, is difficult, if not impossible, for the userwhen the load control device is located in a difficult-to-reach orremote location.

FIG. 1 depicts an example prior art load control system 100 having aload control device 106 that may be configured to control a load 104.The load control device 106 is adapted to be in electrical connectionwith an AC power source 102 and the load 104 for controlling the powerdelivered to the load 104. The load control device 106 may be associatedwith one or more remote control devices, such as a remote control 110,an occupancy sensor 112, a daylight sensor 114, or any other remotecontrol device that is capable of controlling the load 104 throughmessages transmitted directly to the load control device 106.

In order to control the load 104 from one of the remote control devices,the load control device 106 may be configured to receive communicationsdirectly from that device. A button 108 on the load control device 106may be used for configuring the load control system 100. The button 108may be actuated, along with a button on the remote control device (e.g.,button 116 on the remote control 110, button 118 on the daylight sensor114, or button 120 on the occupancy sensor 112), to associate the remotecontrol device with the load control device 106. Each associated remotecontrol device may then be used to control the load via directcommunication with the load control device 106.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a prior art method 200 forconfiguring the load control device 106 of the system 100. As shown inFIG. 2, the process 200 begins at 202. At 204, a user may actuate abutton 108 on the load control device 106 for associating the loadcontrol device 106 with one of the remote control devices (e.g., theremote control 110). After actuation of the button 108 on the loadcontrol device 106, a button may be actuated on the remote controldevice (e.g., button 116 on the remote control 110) at 206. Actuation ofthe button at 206 causes the remote control device (e.g., the remotecontrol 110) to be associated with the load control device 106 at 208.After the remote control device (e.g., the remote control 110) isassociated with the load control device 106 at 208, the remote controldevice (e.g., the remote control 110) can be used, at 210, to controlthe load 104 via direct communication from the remote control device(e.g., the remote control 110) to the load control device 106.

If the user is done configuring remote control devices, at 212, fordirectly controlling the operation of the load control device 106, thenthe process 200 ends at 214. If the user is not done configuring remotecontrol devices, at 212, and wishes to configure another remote controldevice (e.g., the daylight sensor 114 or the occupancy sensor 112) todirectly control the operation of the load control device 106, the usermay start the process 200 again at 202 using another remote controldevice (e.g., the daylight sensor 114 or the occupancy sensor 112).

In many installations, it may be desirable to install the load controldevice 106 in a hard-to-reach or remote location. For example, the loadcontrol device 106 may be mounted in the ceiling close to the lightingload 104 or in an electrical panel to minimize the electrical wiringthat is needed. Accordingly, the load control device 106 may beinstalled such that the button 108 is difficult or impossible for theuser to access. Typically, in such an installation, one or more remotecontrol devices are associated with the load control device 106, andthen the load control device 106 is installed in its permanent location.Consequently, subsequent association of additional remote controldevices with the load control device 106, using the prior-art method 200described above, may be difficult or impossible.

Accordingly, there is a need for a load control system that enables auser of the system to configure the load control device to operate withmultiple remote control devices without having to access the loadcontrol device directly after the load control device is installed. Itwould be particularly desirable if the load control device and at leastone of the remote control devices could be mounted to a singleelectrical wallbox. It would also be desirable if the load controldevice could provide power to operate the remote control device whileboth devices are mounted to the single electrical wallbox.

SUMMARY

A load control system is disclosed herein for controlling an amount ofpower delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. Forexample, the load control system may include a load control device and aremote control device for controlling operation of the load controldevice. The load control device may be adapted to be coupled in serieselectrical connection between the AC power source and the electricalload for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electricalload. The load control device may include a first inductive coil. Theremote control device may include a power supply and a second inductivecoil. The remote control device may be configured to charge the powersupply using energy derived from magnetic coupling between the firstinductive coil and the second inductive coil. The remote control devicemay also be configured to communicate information to the load controldevice via the magnetic coupling between the first inductive coil andthe second inductive coil.

According to another embodiment, the system may include a load controldevice and a remote control device for controlling an operation of theload control device. The load control device may include a firstnear-field communication (NFC) module and the load control device mayinclude a second NFC module. The remote control device may be configuredto communicate information to the load control device, as describedherein, via transmission of NFC radio signals to the first NFC module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example prior art load control system.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a prior art method for associatingremote control devices with a load control device and controlling theload control device directly from each of the associated remote controldevices.

FIG. 3 depicts a first example embodiment of a load control system asdisclosed herein.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a first method as disclosed hereinfor associating remote control devices with a load control device andcontrolling the load control device directly from each of the associatedremote control devices.

FIG. 5A depicts an alternate example embodiment of a load control systemdisclosed herein.

FIG. 5B depicts another alternate example embodiment of a load controlsystem disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 depicts a second example embodiment of a load control systemdisclosed herein

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a second method as disclosedherein for indirectly associating remote control devices with a loadcontrol device and indirectly controlling the load control device fromthe associated remote control devices.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an example embodiment of aremote control device as disclosed herein.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of an example embodiment of a loadcontrol device as disclosed herein.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an in-wall load controldevice and remote control device showing how the in-wall load controldevice and the remote control device may both be mounted to a singleelectrical wallbox.

FIG. 11 depicts a third example embodiment of a load control systemdisclosed herein, with magnetic coupling between the remote controldevice and the load control device.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of an example embodiment of aremote control device as disclosed herein, for magnetic coupling betweenthe remote control device and the load control device.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of an example embodiment of a loadcontrol device as disclosed herein, for magnetic coupling between theremote control device and the load control device.

FIG. 14 depicts a fourth example embodiment of a load control systemdisclosed herein, with near field communication between the remotecontrol device and the load control device.

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a remotecontrol device as disclosed herein, for near field communication betweenthe remote control device and the load control device.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of an example embodiment of a loadcontrol device as disclosed herein, for near field communication betweenthe remote control device and the load control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3 is an example embodiment of a load control system 300. The loadcontrol system 300 includes a load control device 306 that is adapted tobe coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source302 and an electrical load 304 for controlling the power delivered tothe electrical load 304. For example, the electrical load 304 may be alighting load. The load control device 306 may include, for example, arelay adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between theAC power source 302 and the electrical load 304 for turning theelectrical load 304 on and off. Alternatively, the load control device306 may include a dimming circuit for controlling the amount of powerdelivered to the electrical load 304 and thus the intensity of theelectrical load 304.

The load control device 306 may be associated with one or more remotecontrol devices, such as a remote control 312, an occupancy sensor 314,a daylight sensor 316, or any other remote control device that iscapable of controlling the load 304 through transmission of digitalmessages to the load control device 306. The load control device 306 mayinclude a radio-frequency (RF) communication circuit for receiving thedigital messages via RF signals 310. The RF communication circuit mayinclude an RF receiver or RF transceiver, for example, capable ofreceiving the digital messages via the RF signals 310. The load controldevice 306 is operable to control the electrical load 304 in response tothe digital messages received via the RF signals 310. In addition, theload control device 306 includes a button 308 for use in configuring theload control system 300 as described herein.

The remote control 312 includes an on button 318, an off button 326, araise button 322, a lower button 320, and a preset button 324 that, whenactuated, may be used to control the load 304. The remote control 312may be mounted in the opening of a faceplate 328 as shown in FIG. 3. Theremote control 312 may include an RF communication circuit fortransmitting the digital messages to the load control device 306 via theRF signals 310. The RF communication circuit may include an RFtransmitter or RF transceiver, for example, capable of transmitting thedigital messages via the RF signals 310. The remote control 312 isoperable to transmit digital messages, via the RF communication circuit,to the load control device 306 in response to actuations of the buttons318-326. The digital messages may be transmitted to directly associatethe remote control 312 with the load control device 306. The digitalmessages may also include instructions/settings that may be interpretedby the load control device 306 for controlling the electrical load 304.

The load control system 300 may include other remote control devices forcontrolling the load 304 via the load control device 306, such as theoccupancy sensor 314 and/or the daylight sensor 316, for example. Inaddition, the load control system 300 may include other types of inputdevices, such as, for example, vacancy sensors, temperature sensors,humidity sensors, security sensors, proximity sensors, keypads, keyfobs, cell phones, smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants,personal computers, timeclocks, audio-visual controls, and/or safetydevices. In addition, the load control device 306 may be operable toreceive the RF signals 310 from a central control transmitter, forexample, for receiving a broadcast command, such as a timeclock command,a load shed command, or a demand response command. An example of acentral control transmitter is described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/654,562,filed Jun. 1, 2012, entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVINGINDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST TRANSMITTER,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The occupancy sensor 314 and/or the daylight sensor 316 may beindirectly associated with the load control device 306 via the remotecontrol 312. For example, after the remote control 312 is associatedwith the load control device 306, one or more of the buttons 318-326 onthe remote control 312 may be actuated (e.g., by pressing and holdingfor a predetermined period of time) causing the remote control 312 totransmit a digital message to the load control device 306 forassociating one or more other remote control devices (e.g., occupancysensor 314 and/or daylight sensor 316) with the load control device 306.The digital message may cause the load control device 306 toautomatically enter an association mode for associating with anotherremote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylightsensor 316).

The occupancy sensor 314 and the daylight sensor 316 are operable totransmit digital messages to the load control device 306, via the RFsignals 310. The digital messages may be used for associating the remotecontrol devices with the load control device 306 when the load controldevice 306 is in an association mode. The digital messages forassociating the occupancy sensor 314 with the load control device 306may be transmitted upon the actuation of button 338 (e.g., by pressingand holding button 338 for a predetermined period of time) on theoccupancy sensor 314. The digital messages for associating the daylightsensor 316 may be transmitted upon the actuation of button 340 (e.g., bypressing and holding button 340 for a predetermined period of time) onthe daylight sensor 316. Once the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylightsensor 316 has been associated with the load control device 306, theassociated device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylight sensor316) may transmit digital messages directly to the load control device306 for controlling the operation of the load control device 306.

The occupancy sensor 314 may transmit digital messages for controllingthe operation of the load control device 306 in response to detecting anoccupancy condition (e.g., the presence of an occupant) or a vacancycondition (e.g., the absence of the occupant) in the vicinity of theoccupancy sensor 314. The occupancy sensor 314 may be removablymountable to a ceiling or a wall in the space around the load controldevice 306 and/or the remote control 312. The occupancy sensor 314 mayinclude an internal detector, e.g., a pyroelectric infrared (PIR)detector, which is housed in an enclosure 334, and may be operable toreceive infrared energy from the occupant in the space via a lens 336 inthe enclosure 334 to thus sense the occupancy condition in the vicinityof the occupancy sensor 314. The occupancy sensor 314 may process theoutput of the PIR detector to determine whether an occupancy conditionor a vacancy condition is presently occurring in the space, for example,by comparing the output of the PIR detector to a predetermined occupancyvoltage threshold. Alternatively, the internal detector may include anultrasonic detector, a microwave detector, or any combination of PIRdetectors, ultrasonic detectors, and/or microwave detectors. Theoccupancy sensor 314 may operate in an “occupied” state or a “vacant”state in response to the detections of occupancy or vacancy conditions,respectively, in the space. If the occupancy sensor 314 is in the vacantstate and the occupancy sensor 314 determines that the space is occupiedin response to the PIR detector, the occupancy sensor 314 may change tothe occupied state.

Alternatively, the occupancy sensor 314 may be implemented as a vacancysensor 314. The vacancy sensor 314 may operate to send digital messagesto the load control device 306 to turn off the lighting load 304 whenthe vacancy sensor 314 detects a vacancy in the space. Therefore, whenusing vacancy sensors, the lighting load 304 may be turned on manually(e.g., in response to a manual actuation of the on button 318 of theremote control 312). Examples of RF load control systems havingoccupancy and vacancy sensors are described in greater detail in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/203,518, filed Sep. 3, 2008, andsubsequently issued Aug. 30, 2011 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,042, entitledRADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/203,500, filed Sep. 3, 2008, andsubsequently issued May 10, 2011 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,940,167, entitledBATTERY-POWERED OCCUPANCY SENSOR; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/371,027, filed Feb. 13, 2009, and subsequently issued Jun. 12, 2012as U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,010, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONFIGURING A WIRELESS SENSOR, the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

The daylight sensor 316 may be mounted so as to measure a total lightintensity in the space around the daylight sensor 316 (e.g., in thevicinity of the lighting load 304 controlled by the load control device306). The daylight sensor 316 may include an internal photosensitivecircuit, e.g., a photosensitive diode, which may be housed in anenclosure 332 having a lens 330 for conducting light from outside thedaylight sensor 316 towards the internal photosensitive diode. Thedaylight sensor 316 may be responsive to the total light intensitymeasured by the internal photosensitive circuit. Specifically, thedaylight sensor 316 may be operable to wirelessly transmit digitalmessages (e.g., wireless signals) to the load control device 306 via theRF signals 310, such that the load control device 306 controls thepresent light intensity of the electrical load 304 in response to thetotal light intensity L_(T-SNSR) measured by the daylight sensor 316.For example, the load control device 306 may control the present lightintensity based on instructions/settings received in the digitalmessages. Examples of RF load control systems having daylight sensorsare described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/727,956, filed Mar. 19, 2010, entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWEREDDAYLIGHT SENSOR, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/727,923, filedMar. 19, 2010, entitled METHOD OF CALIBRATING A DAYLIGHT SENSOR, theentire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a process 400 for associating remote controldevices with the load control device 306 and controlling the loadcontrol device 306 via the associated remote control devices. As shownin FIG. 4, the process 400 begins at 402. At 404, a first remote controldevice (e.g., remote control 312) may be directly associated with theload control device 306. For example, a user may actuate a button 308 onthe load control device 306 to cause the load control device 306 toenter an association mode. The button 308 may be actuated for apredetermined period of time (e.g., approximately 10 seconds) before theload control device 306 enters the association mode. While the loadcontrol device 306 is in the association mode, a user may actuate one ormore buttons on the first remote control device (e.g., one or more ofthe predetermined buttons 318-326 on the remote control 312) to transmitan association message directly to the load control device 306 forassociating the first remote control device (e.g., the remote control312) with the load control device 306. The one or more buttons on thefirst remote control device (e.g., one or more of the predeterminedbuttons 318-326 on the remote control 312) may be actuated for apredetermined period of time (e.g., approximately 10 seconds) beforetransmitting the association message. The association message from thefirst remote control device (e.g., the remote control 312) may include aunique identifier (e.g., a serial number) of the first remote controldevice (e.g., the remote control 312). The load control device 306 maystore the unique identifier (e.g., serial number) of the first remotecontrol device (e.g., the remote control 312) in performing theassociation with the first remote control device (e.g., the remotecontrol 312). The load control device 306 may then be responsive todigital messages containing the unique identifier (e.g., serial number)of the first remote control device (e.g., the remote control 312) withwhich the load control device 306 is associated.

As a result of the association of the first remote control device (e.g.,the remote control 312), at 404, the first remote control device (e.g.,the remote control 312) may be used to directly control the load controldevice 306 at 406. For example, the load control device 306 may beresponsive to messages received from the first remote control device(e.g., the remote control 312) that contain instructions/settings forcontrolling the load 304. The messages may include the unique identifier(e.g., serial number) of the first remote control device (e.g., theremote control 312), which the load control device 306 may use todetermine that the messages containing the instructions/settings arefrom the associated first remote control device (e.g., the remotecontrol 312). The load control device 306 may execute receivedinstructions/settings for controlling the load 304 if the instructionssettings are received from an associated device.

In an example, the load control device 306 may be taken out ofassociation mode to receive messages for controlling the load 304 and/orto control the load 304. The load control device 306 may be taken out ofassociation mode automatically (e.g., at the expiration of a period oftime or after an association is finished). Alternatively, the loadcontrol device may be taken out of association mode when a user actuatesthe button 308 on the load control device 306 and/or one or more of thebuttons on the first remote control device (e.g., one or more of thepredetermined buttons 318-326 on the remote control 312).

The associated first remote control device (e.g., the remote control312) may be used to further configure and setup the load control system300. For example, the first remote control device (e.g., the remotecontrol 312) may operate as a master control for the load control device306 to allow for configuration of the load control device 306, e.g., toallow for association of subsequent remote control devices with the loadcontrol device 306. A user may use the first remote control device(e.g., the remote control 312) to indirectly associate another remotecontrol device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylight sensor316) with the load control device 306, at 408. For example, the user mayactuate one or more buttons on the first remote control device (e.g.,one or more of the predetermined buttons 318-326 on the remote control312) to transmit an association message to the load control device 306,causing the load control device 306 to automatically enter anassociation mode for associating with a second remote control device(e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylight sensor 316).

The association message transmitted from the first remote control device(e.g., the remote control 312) at 408 may include the unique identifier(e.g., serial number) of the first remote control device (e.g., theremote control 312). The load control device 306 may determine that ithas already been associated with the first remote control device (e.g.,the remote control 312) based on a comparison of the unique identifierreceived in the association message with the unique identifiers storedin the load control device 306. When the load control device 306determines that it is already associated with the first remote controldevice (e.g., the remote control 312) identified in the associationmessage from the first remote control device (e.g., the remote control312), it may automatically enter the association mode for associatingwith the second remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 orthe daylight sensor 316).

While the load control device 306 is in the association mode, the usermay actuate a button on the second remote control device (e.g., button338 on the occupancy sensor 314 or button 340 on the daylight sensor316), such that the second remote control device (e.g., the occupancysensor 314 or the daylight sensor 316) transmits an association messagedirectly to the load control device 306. The association message fromthe second remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or thedaylight sensor 316) may include a respective unique identifier (e.g., aserial number) that may be stored by the load control device 306.

As a result of the association of the second remote control device(e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylight sensor 316) at 408, theuser may directly control the load control device 306, at 410, using theassociated second remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314or the daylight sensor 316). For example, the load control device 306may be responsive to messages received directly from the second remotecontrol device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or the daylight sensor316). The messages may include instructions/settings for controlling theload 304. The messages may also include the unique identifier (e.g.,serial number) of the second remote control device (e.g., the occupancysensor 314 or the daylight sensor 316), which the load control device306 may use to determine that the messages containing theinstructions/settings for controlling the load 304 are received from thesecond remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 314 or thedaylight sensor 316). To enable the receipt of messages for controllingthe load 304 and/or control of the load 304 at the load control device306, the load control device 306 may be taken out of association mode asdescribed herein.

The process 400 may be implemented to associate any number of remotecontrol devices with the load control device 306. If the user is doneassociating remote control devices at 412, the process 400 ends at 414.If the user is not done associating remote control devices and wishes toassociate another remote control device at 412, the process 400 mayreturn to 408 and the user may associate another remote control devicewith the load control device 306 as described herein.

Alternatively, the load control device 306 may be operable to controlother types of electrical loads. For example, the load control device306 may alternatively comprise an electronic dimming ballast for drivinga fluorescent lamp; a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for driving anLED light source (e.g., an LED light engine); a screw-in luminaireincluding a dimmer circuit and an incandescent or halogen lamp; ascrew-in luminaire including a ballast and a compact fluorescent lamp; ascrew-in luminaire including an LED driver and an LED light source; adimming circuit for controlling the intensity of an incandescent lamp, ahalogen lamp, an electronic low-voltage lighting load, a magneticlow-voltage lighting load, or another type of lighting load; anelectronic switch, controllable circuit breaker, or other switchingdevice for turning electrical loads or appliances on and off; a plug-inload control device, controllable electrical receptacle, or controllablepower strip for controlling one or more plug-in electrical loads; amotor control unit for controlling a motor load, such as a ceiling fanor an exhaust fan; a drive unit for controlling a motorized windowtreatment or a projection screen; motorized interior or exteriorshutters; a thermostat for a heating and/or cooling system; atemperature control device for controlling a heating, ventilation, andair conditioning (HVAC) system; an air conditioner; a compressor; anelectric baseboard heater controller; a controllable damper; a humiditycontrol unit; a dehumidifier; a water heater; a pool pump; a TV orcomputer monitor; an electric charger, such as an electric vehiclecharger; and an alternative energy controller (e.g., a solar, wind, orthermal energy controller).

FIG. 5A illustrates an example embodiment of a load control system 500comprising a screw-in controllable luminaire 504 powered by the AC powersource 302. The screw-in controllable luminaire 504 comprises anintegral light source 505, i.e., a lighting load, such as a compactfluorescent lamp or a light-emitting diode (LED) light engine, and abase portion 506 housing an integral load control circuit (not shown)for controlling the intensity of the light source. The base portion 506is coupled to a screw-in base 507 that may be adapted to be screwed intoa standard Edison socket, such that the load control circuit may becoupled to the AC power source 302. Examples of screw-in luminaires aredescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.8,008,866, issued Aug. 30, 2011, entitled HYBRID LIGHT SOURCE, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/464,330, filed May 4, 2012, entitledDIMMABLE SCREW-IN COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP HAVING INTEGRAL ELECTRONICBALLAST CIRCUIT, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

The screw-in controllable luminaire 504 may be operable to receive theRF signals 310 from the remote control 312, the occupancy sensor 314,and/or the daylight sensor 316 for controlling the light source 505. Thescrew-in controllable luminaire 504 also comprises a button 508 for usein associating remote control devices. For example, the button 508 maybe used in associating the remote control 312 with the screw-incontrollable luminaire (e.g., in a similar manner as the remote control312 is associated with the load control device 306 as described herein).The occupancy sensor 314 and/or the daylight sensor 316 may then beindirectly associated with the screw-in controllable luminaire 504 usingthe remote control 312 (e.g., in a similar manner as the occupancysensor 314 and the daylight sensor 316 are indirectly associated withthe load control device 306 as described herein).

FIG. 5B illustrates an example embodiment of a load control system 550comprising a motorized window treatment, for example, a battery-poweredmotorized window treatment 554. The battery-powered motorized windowtreatment 554 comprises a covering material, for example, a cellularshade fabric 555 as shown in FIG. 5B. The cellular shade fabric 555 mayhave a top end connected to a headrail 556 and a bottom end connected toa weighting element 557 and may be able to hang in front of a window.Alternatively, the battery-powered motorized window treatment 554 maycomprise other types of covering materials, such as, for example, aplurality of horizontally-extending slats (e.g., a Venetian or Persianblind system), pleated blinds, a roller shade fabric, a Roman shadefabric, or a drapery fabric. The motorized window treatment 554 mayfurther comprise a motor drive unit 558 for adjusting the cellular shadefabric 555 between a fully-open position P_(FULLY-OPEN) and afully-closed position P_(FULLY-CLOSED) to control the amount of daylightentering a room or space. The motorized window treatment 554 maycomprise one or more batteries (not shown) for powering the motor driveunit 558. Alternatively, the motor drive unit 558 may be powered from anexternal DC power source or an AC power source. Examples ofbattery-powered motorized window treatments are described in greaterdetail in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/415,084,filed Mar. 8, 2012, entitled MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The motorized window treatment 554 may be operable to receive the RFsignals 310 from remote control devices for controlling the position ofthe cellular shade fabric 555. For example, the motorized windowtreatment 554 may receive the RF signals 310 the remote control 312, theoccupancy sensor 314, and/or the daylight sensor 316. The motor driveunit 558 may comprise a button (not shown) for use in associating theremote control devices with the motorized window treatment 554. Forexample, the button on the motor drive unit 558 may be used to associatethe remote control 312 with the motorized window treatment 554 (e.g., ina similar manner as the remote control 312 is associated with the loadcontrol device 306 as described herein). The occupancy sensor 314 and/orthe daylight sensor 316 may then be indirectly associated with themotorized window treatment 554 using the remote control 312 (e.g., in asimilar manner as the occupancy sensor 314 and the daylight sensor 316are indirectly associated with the load control device 306 as describedherein).

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a load control system 600.The load control system 600 includes a load control device 602 that maybe associated with a remote control 604. The remote control 604 iscapable of controlling the load 304 via digital messages transmitteddirectly to the load control device 602. The load control system 600 mayalso include one or more other remote control devices, such as theoccupancy sensor 606 and/or the daylight sensor 608 for example, thatmay communicate with the load control device 602 indirectly via theremote control 604. For example, the occupancy sensor and/or thedaylight sensor 608 may be indirectly associated with and/or indirectlycontrol the operations of the load control device 602 via the remotecontrol 604.

The load control device 602 may include a radio-frequency (RF)communication circuit for receiving digital messages via RF signals 310from the remote control 604. The RF communication circuit may include anRF receiver or RF transceiver, for example, capable of receiving thedigital messages via the RF signals 310. The digital messages from theremote control 604 may include association messages for directlyassociating the remote control 604 or indirectly associating anotherremote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylightsensor 608). The digital messages from the remote control 604 may alsoinclude instructions/settings for controlling the load 304 via the loadcontrol device 602. The instructions/settings included in the digitalmessages may originate directly from the remote control 604 or fromanother associated remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606or the daylight sensor 608). The load control device 602 is operable tocontrol the electrical load 304 in response to the instructions/settingsincluded in the received digital messages.

The remote control 604 includes an RF communication circuit forreceiving digital messages from other remote control devices (e.g., theoccupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608) and transmittingdigital messages to the load control device 602 via the RF signals 310.The RF communication circuit may include an RF transceiver, for example,capable of transmitting and/or receiving the digital messages via the RFsignals 310. Specifically, the remote control 604 is operable to receivedigital messages including association information for another remotecontrol device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor608) and to transmit the association information to the load controldevice 602 to associate the other remote control device (e.g., theoccupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608). The remote control 604may also receive digital messages from another remote control device(e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608) that includeinstructions/settings for controlling the electrical load 304 andtransmit digital messages including the received instructions/settingsto the load control device 602 for controlling the electrical load 304.

As shown in FIG. 6, the system 600 includes other remote controldevices, such as the occupancy sensor 606 and the daylight sensor 608,that are capable of indirectly associating with and/or indirectlycontrolling the operation of the load control device 602, via the remotecontrol 604. The occupancy sensor 606 and the daylight sensor 608 mayeach use the associated remote control 604 to indirectly communicatedigital messages to the load control device 602. The occupancy sensor606 and the daylight sensor 608 are operable to transmit digitalmessages to the remote control 604 via the RF signals 310. The digitalmessages transmitted from the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylightsensor 608 may include respective association information forassociating each device with the load control device 602. Theassociation information may include the unique identifier (e.g., serialnumber) of the respective device. The digital messages transmitted fromthe occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608 may includerespective instructions/settings for controlling the electrical load 304via the load control device 602. The digital messages transmitted by theoccupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608 may be received by theremote control 604 and the information in the messages may be forwardedto the load control device 602.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a process 700 for associating remote controldevices with the load control device 602 and controlling the loadcontrol device 602 using the associated remote control devices. As shownin FIG. 7, the process 700 begins at 702. At 704, a first remote controldevice (e.g., the remote control 604) may be directly associated withthe load control device 602. As a result of the association of the firstremote control device (e.g., the remote control 604), at 704, the firstremote control device (e.g., the remote control 604) may be used todirectly control the load control device 602, at 706.

The associated first remote control device (e.g., the remote control604) may be used to indirectly associate another remote control device(e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608) with theload control device 602, at 708. For example, the user may actuate oneor more buttons on the first remote control device (e.g., one or more ofthe predetermined buttons 318-326 on the remote control 604) to transmitan association message to the load control device 602, causing the loadcontrol device 602 to automatically enter an association mode. While theload control device 602 is in the association mode, the user may actuatea button on a second remote control device (e.g., button 338 on theoccupancy sensor 606 or button 340 on the daylight sensor 608), suchthat the second remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 orthe daylight sensor 608) transmits association information to the loadcontrol device 602 indirectly via the first remote control device (e.g.,the remote control 604).

As a result of the association of the second remote control device(e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608), at 708,instructions/settings from the second remote control device (e.g., theoccupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608) may be used by the loadcontrol device 602 for controlling the load 304. Thus, the second remotecontrol device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor608) may be used to indirectly control the load control device 602 viathe first remote control device (e.g., the remote control 604), at 710.For example, the first remote control device (e.g., the remote control604) may receive instructions/settings for controlling the load 304 fromthe second remote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or thedaylight sensor 608) and the first remote control device (e.g., theremote control 604) may forward the instructions/settings to the loadcontrol device 602. The load control device 602 may be responsive tomessages received directly from the first remote control device (e.g.,the remote control 604) that contain instructions/settings forcontrolling the load 304 from the second remote control device (e.g.,the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608). The messages thatinclude the instructions/settings for controlling the load 304 may alsoinclude the unique identifier (e.g., serial number) of the first remotecontrol device (e.g., the remote control 604) from which the message issent and/or the unique identifier (e.g., serial number) of the secondremote control device (e.g., the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylightsensor 608) from which the instructions/settings originated. The loadcontrol device 602 may use the received unique identifier(s) todetermine that the instructions/settings for controlling the load 304are received from an associated remote control device.

The process 700 may be implemented to associate any number of remotecontrol devices with the load control device 602. If the user is doneassociating remote control devices at 712, the process 700 ends at 714.If the user is not done associating remote control devices and wishes toassociate another remote control device at 712, the process 700 mayreturn to 708 and the user may associate another remote control devicewith the load control device 602 as described herein.

In an alternative embodiment, the second remote control device need notbe associated with the load control device 602, as illustrated at 708,for example. Instead, the second remote control device may transmitinstructions/setting for controlling the load 304 to the first remotecontrol device and, because the first remote control device is alreadyassociated with the load control device 602, the first remote controldevice may forward the instructions/settings on as if they originated atthe first remote control device. For example, the instructions/settingsmay be transmitted from the first remote control device in a messagethat includes the unique identifier (e.g., serial number) of the firstremote control device.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an example embodiment of theremote control 312, 604 disclosed herein. The remote control 312, 604includes a controller 802 for controlling the operation of the remotecontrol 312, 604. The controller 802 may include a microcontroller, aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a microprocessor, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), or any suitable processing device or control circuit. Thecontroller 802 may receive inputs from the tactile switches 812 that aremounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) of the remote control312, 604 for controlling the electrical load 304. For example thetactile switches 812 may include the buttons 318-326. The controller 802may determine one or more instructions/settings for transmitting via theRF communication circuit 806 based on the inputs received from thetactile switches 812.

The controller 802 may also control light-emitting diodes 810, which maybe mounted on the printed circuit board. The light emitting diodes 810may be arranged to illuminate status indicators on the front surface ofthe remote control 312, 604, for example, through a light pipe structure(not shown). The controller 802 may also be coupled to a memory 804 forstorage and/or retrieval of unique identifiers (e.g., serial numbers) ofthe remote control 312, 604, instructions/settings for controlling theelectrical load 304, programming instructions for communicating via awireless communication link, and/or the like. The memory 804 may beimplemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internalcircuit of the controller 802. A battery 814, or other power supply forexample, may generate a direct-current (DC) voltage V_(BATT) forpowering the controller 802, the memory 804, and other low-voltagecircuitry of the remote control 312, 604.

The remote control 312, 604 further includes an RF communication circuit806 for transmitting and/or receiving the RF signals 310. The RFcommunication circuit 806 may include an RF transmitter, an RF receiver,and/or an RF transceiver, for example. In an example, the RFcommunication circuit 806 may be used to receive RF signals 310 fromanother remote control device and/or transmit RF signals 310 to the loadcontrol device 306, 602. The RF communication circuit 806 may beconfigured to communicate via a Wi-Fi communication link, a Wi-MAXcommunication link, RF signals according to a proprietary RFcommunication protocol (e.g., Clear Connect™ protocol), and/or aBluetooth® communication link. The RF communication circuit 806 mayreceive instructions/setting from the controller 802 and may transmitthe instructions/settings, via the RF antenna 808.

The controller 802 may be capable of receiving and processing messagesfrom the RF communication circuit 806. The controller 802 may also becapable of processing messages and sending them to the RF communicationcircuit 806 for transmission. Information in the messages received bythe controller 802 from the RF communication circuit 806 may be storedin the memory 804. For example, the controller 802 may store associationinformation and/or instructions/settings received from another remotecontrol device in the memory 804 and may access the stored associationinformation and/or instructions/settings for transmitting them to theload control device 306, 602 via the RF communication circuit 806.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the load control device 306, 602as disclosed herein. The load control device 306, 602 may include acontrollably conductive device 904 coupled in series electricalconnection between the AC power source 302 and the electrical load 304for control of the power delivered to the electrical load 304. Thecontrollably conductive device 904 may include a relay or otherswitching device, or any suitable type of bidirectional semiconductorswitch, such as, for example, a triac, a field-effect transistor (FET)in a rectifier bridge, or two FETs in anti-series connection. Thecontrollably conductive device 904 may include a control input coupledto a drive circuit 908.

The load control device 306, 602 may further include a controller 902coupled to the drive circuit 908 for rendering the controllablyconductive device 904 conductive or non-conductive to thus control thepower delivered to the electrical load 304. The controller 902 mayinclude a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), amicroprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), or any suitable processing deviceor control circuit. A zero-crossing detector 910 may determine thezero-crossings of the input AC waveform from the AC power supply 302. Azero-crossing may be the time at which the AC supply voltage transitionsfrom positive to negative polarity, or from negative to positivepolarity, at the beginning of each half-cycle. The controller 902 mayreceive the zero-crossing information from the zero-crossing detector910 and may provide the control inputs to the drive circuit 908 torender the controllably conductive device 904 conductive andnon-conductive at predetermined times relative to the zero-crossingpoints of the AC waveform.

The controller 902 may receive inputs from a mechanical actuator 308(e.g., button, switch, etc.) that is mounted on a printed circuit board(not shown) of the load control device 306, 602. The controller 902 mayalso be coupled to a memory 912 for storage and/or retrieval of uniqueidentifiers (e.g., serial numbers) of remote control devices,instructions/settings for controlling the electrical load 304,programming instructions for communicating via a wireless communicationlink, and/or the like. The memory 912 may be implemented as an externalintegrated circuit (IC) or as an internal circuit of the controller 902.A power supply 906 may generate a direct-current (DC) voltage V_(CC) forpowering the controller 902, the memory 912, and other low-voltagecircuitry of the load control device 306, 602.

The load control device 306, 602 may further include an RF communicationcircuit 914 coupled to an antenna 916 for communicating via the RFsignals 310. The RF communication circuit 914 may include an RF receivercapable of simply receiving the RF signals 310, and/or an RF transceivercapable of transmitting and/or receiving RF signals 310, for example.The RF communication circuit 914 may be configured to communicate via aWi-Fi communication link, a Wi-MAX communication link, RF signalsaccording to a proprietary RF communication protocol (e.g., ClearConnect™ protocol), and/or a Bluetooth® communication link. The RFcommunication circuit 914 may transmit and/or receive the RF signals 310via the antenna 916. Examples of antennas for wall-mounted load controldevices are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,103,issued Nov. 9, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,362,285, issued Apr. 22, 2008,both entitled COMPACT RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING ANTENNAAND CONTROL DEVICE EMPLOYING SAME, the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the load control device 306, 602 andthe remote control 312, 604 being mounted to a single electrical wallbox1008. The load control device 306, 602 may be adapted to be locatedinside the wallbox 1008, and thus may be referred to as an in-wall loadcontrol device 306, 602. The remote control 312, 604 may be coupled to amounting structure 1006 that may be attached to the wallbox 1008 viamounting screws 1012, such that the remote control 312, 604 may belocated outside the wallbox 1008. The faceplate 1002 may be adapted tosnap to a faceplate adapter 1004, which may be connected to the mountingstructure 1006 via faceplate screws 1010.

Before the remote control 312, 604 and the mounting structure 1006 aremounted to the wallbox 1008, for example, during installation of theload control system 300, 600, the remote control 312, 604 may beassociated with the in-wall load control device 306, 602 as describedherein. For example, a user may actuate the button 308 on the in-wallload control device 306, 602 to cause the in-wall load control device306, 602 to enter an association mode. While the in-wall load controldevice 306, 602 is in the association mode, the user may actuate apredetermined one or more of the buttons 318-326 of the remote control312, 604, such that the remote control 312, 604 transmits an associationmessage to the in-wall load control device 306, 602. The in-wall loadcontrol device 306, 602 may use the information in the associationmessage to associate the remote control 312, 604 with the in-wall loadcontrol device 306, 602. For example, the association message mayinclude a unique identifier (e.g., a serial number) of the remotecontrol 312, 604, which the in-wall load control device 306, 602 maystore for association. Each digital message transmitted by the remotecontrol 312, 604 for controlling operation of the in-wall load controldevice 306, 602 may include the unique identifier (e.g., serial number)of the remote control 312, 604. After association, the in-wall loadcontrol device 306, 602 may be responsive to messages containing theunique identifier (e.g., serial number) of the remote control 312, 604.

After the remote control 312, 604 is associated with the in-wall loadcontrol device 306, 602, the remote control 312, 604 and the mountingstructure 1006 may be mounted to the wallbox 1008 and the user mayactuate one or more of the buttons 318-326 of the remote control 312,604 to further configure the load control system 300, 600 as describedherein. In other words, the remote control 312, 604 may operate as amaster control for the in-wall load control device 306, 602 to allow forconfiguration of the in-wall load control device 306, 602 while thein-wall load control device 306, 602 is installed in the wallbox 1008and may be inaccessible to the user.

Rather than being installed in the electrical wallbox 1008, the in-wallload control device 306, 602 could alternatively be installed in anelectrical closet, or mounted to a junction box, above a ceiling, orflush to a wall. In addition, the remote control 312, 604 could bemounted flush to a wall or implemented as a tabletop or handheld device.

FIG. 11 depicts an example embodiment of a load control system 1100disclosed herein, with magnetic coupling between a remote control 1108and the load control device 1102. As in the other embodiments describedherein, the load control device 1102 and the remote control 1108 may beadapted to be mounted to a single electrical wallbox. However, the loadcontrol device 1102 and the remote control 1108, illustrated in FIG. 11,include respective inductive coils 1104, 1106, which may be magneticallycoupled together (e.g., inside the wallbox to which the load controldevice 1102 and the remote control 1108 may be mounted). The loadcontrol device 1102 and the remote control 1108 are operable tocommunicate with each other via the inductive coupling of the inductivecoils 1104, 1106. The remote control 1108 may include an RFcommunication circuit and may be operable to receive digital messages(e.g., including association information or instructions/settings forcontrolling the electrical load 304) from other remote control devices,such as the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylight sensor 608, forexample, via the RF signals 310. The remote control 1108 may then beoperable to retransmit the information in the received digital messagesto the load control device 1102 via the inductive coupling of theinductive coils 1104, 1106.

The remote control 1108 may be charged via energy derived from theinductive coupling of the inductive coils 1104, 1106. For example, theremote control 1108 may include a battery 814 or other power source (notshown in FIG. 11) that may be charged via the energy derived from theinductive coupling of the inductive coils 1104, 1106. Alternatively, theremote control 1108 may be entirely powered from the inductive couplingof the inductive coils 1104, 1106. An example of an inductive chargingsystem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,906,936, issued Mar. 15, 2011,RECHARGEABLE INDUCTIVE CHARGER, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example embodiment of the remote control 1108disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the remote control 1108 maybe similar to the other remote controls described herein, but the remotecontrol 1108 may include inductive coils 1106 and/or a battery chargingcircuit 1202. The inductive coils 1106 of the remote control 1108 mayreceive messages from the controller 802 and may transmit messages tothe load control device 1102 via the inductive coupling of the inductivecoils 1106 with the inductive coils 1104 of the load control device1102. The messages may include association information and/orinstructions/settings for controlling the electrical load 304, forexample. The instructions/settings may be received from another remotecontrol device via RF communication circuit 806 and/or retrieved fromthe memory 804 of the remote control 1108.

The inductive coils 1106 may also be used, with the battery chargingcircuit 1202 for example, to charge the battery 814. The inductive coils1106 may transmit energy received via inductive coupling to the batterycharging circuit 1202. The battery charging circuit 1202 may use theenergy received from the inductive coils 1106 to charge the battery 814for powering the controller 802, the RF communication circuit 806, andother low voltage circuitry of the remote control 1108. In analternative embodiment in which the remote control 1108 is entirelypowered from the inductive coupling of the inductive coils 1106 with theinductive coils 1104 of the load control device 1102, the remote control1108 may not include a battery 814. For example, the inductive coils1106 of the remote control 1108 may be housed in an enclosure (notshown) that may be approximately the same size as the battery 814 of theremote control 1108, for example, and may be adapted to be installed inthe battery compartment of the remote control 1108 to thus power thecontroller 802, the RF communication circuit 806, and other low voltagecircuitry of the remote control 1108.

The remote controls described herein may alternatively be operable tocharge the battery 814 from energy derived from radio-frequency (RF)signals received by the RF communication circuit 806, for example, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,812,771, issued Oct. 12, 2010, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A WIRELESS POWER SUPPLY, theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example embodiment of the load control device1102 disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the load controldevice 1102 may be similar to the other load control devices describedherein, but the load control device 1102 may include inductive coils1104. The inductive coils 1104 of the load control device 1102 mayreceive messages from the remote control 1108 via inductive coupling ofthe inductive coils 1104 of the load control device 1102 and theinductive coils 1106 of the remote control 1108. The received messagesmay be transmitted to the controller 902. The received messages mayinclude association information (e.g., unique identifier),instructions/settings for controlling the load 304, and/or otherinformation that may be stored in memory 912 and/or used by thecontroller 902. The inductive coils 1104 may also be used to transmitenergy for charging the remote control 1108 via inductive coupling withthe inductive coils 1106 of the remote control 1108.

FIG. 14 depicts an example embodiment of a load control system 1400disclosed herein, having a remote control 1408 and a load control device1402 operable to communicate via near field communication (NFC) signals1410. As in the other embodiments described herein, the load controldevice 1402 and the remote control 1408 may be adapted to be mounted toa single electrical wallbox. The load control device 1402 and the remotecontrol 1408 include respective antennas 1404, 1406, which are operableto communicate via NFC signals 1410 when the remote control 1408 isclose to the load control device 1402 (e.g., inside the wallbox to whichthe load control device 1402 and the remote control 1408 may bemounted). The proximity of the remote control 1408 to the load controldevice 1402 may be close enough for successfully transmitting the NFCsignals 1410 based on the signal-to-noise ratio, error coding, etc. Theremote control 1408 may include an RF communication circuit and may beoperable to receive digital messages via the RF signals 310. The digitalmessages may include association information and/orinstructions/settings for controlling the electrical load 304 from otherremote control devices, such as the occupancy sensor 606 or the daylightsensor 608, for example. The remote control 1408 may then be operable toretransmit the received instructions/settings to the load control device1402 via the NFC signals 1410.

The remote control 1408 may be charged via energy derived from the NFCsignals 1410. For example, the remote control 1408 may include a battery814 or other power source (not shown in FIG. 14) that may be charged viathe energy derived from the NFC signals 1410. Alternatively, the remotecontrol 1408 may be entirely powered from the NFC signals 1410.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example embodiment of the remote control 1408disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the remote control 1408 maybe similar to the other remote controls described herein, but the remotecontrol 1408 may include an NFC module 1502 (e.g., an NFC circuit)and/or a battery charging circuit 1504. The NFC module 1502 may receivemessages from the controller 802 for transmission to the load controldevice 1402 via the NFC signals 1410. The messages may be transmittedusing the antenna 1406, for example. The messages may includeassociation information and/or instructions/settings for controlling theelectrical load 304, for example. The association information and/orinstructions/settings may be received from another remote control devicevia RF communication circuit 806 and/or retrieved from the memory 804 ofthe remote control 1408.

The NFC module 1502 may also be used, with the battery charging circuit1504 for example, to charge the battery 814. The NFC module 1502 maytransmit energy received via the NFC signals 1410 to the batterycharging circuit 1504. The battery charging circuit 1504 may use theenergy from the NFC module 1502 to charge the battery 814 for poweringthe controller 802, the RF communication circuit 806, and other lowvoltage circuitry of the remote control 1408. In an alternativeembodiment in which the remote control 1408 is entirely powered by theenergy received via the NFC signals 1410, the remote control 1408 maynot include a battery 814. For example, the NFC module 1502 of theremote control 1408 may be housed in an enclosure (not shown) that maybe approximately the same size as the battery 814 of the remote control1408, for example, and may be adapted to be installed in the batterycompartment of the remote control 1408 to thus power the controller 802,the RF communication circuit 806, and other low voltage circuitry of theremote control 1408.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example embodiment of the load control device1402 disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the load controldevice 1402 may be similar to the other load control devices describedherein, but the load control device 1402 may include NFC module 1602.The NFC module 1602 may receive messages from the remote control 1408via NFC signals 1410. The messages may be received using the antenna1404, for example, and may be transmitted to the controller 902. Thereceived messages may include association information (e.g., a uniqueidentifier), instructions/settings for controlling the load 304, and/orother information that may be stored in memory 912 and/or used by thecontroller 902 to control the load 304. The NFC module 1602 may also beused to transmit energy via the antenna 1404 for charging the remotecontrol 1408.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical load controller, comprising:wireless communication circuitry; actuator circuitry; memory circuitry;controller circuitry communicatively coupled to the wirelesscommunication circuitry, the memory circuitry, and the actuatorcircuitry, the controller circuitry to: responsive to receipt of aremote controller association input via the actuator circuitry: enter acommand association mode; receive an association message from a remotecontroller via the wireless communication circuitry, the associationmessage including data representative of at least one unique identifierassociated with the remote controller; and cause a storage of datarepresentative of an association between the electrical load controllerand the remote controller in the memory circuitry, the stored dataincluding the data representative of the at least one unique identifierassociated with the remote controller; and responsive to receipt of adevice association command from the remote controller via the wirelesscommunications circuitry: enter the association mode; receive anassociation message from a wireless control device via the wirelesscommunication circuitry, the association message including datarepresentative of at least one unique identifier associated with thewireless control device; and store data representative of an associationbetween the electrical load controller and the wireless control devicein the memory circuitry, the stored data including the datarepresentative of the at least one unique identifier associated with thewireless control device.
 2. The electrical load controller of claim 1,further comprising: driver circuitry operatively coupled to thecontroller circuitry, the driver circuitry operatively couplable to oneor more electrical load devices.
 3. The electrical load controller ofclaim 2, the controller circuitry to further: receive, from the remotecontroller, an electrical load command instruction that includes thedata representative unique identifier associated with the remotecontroller; compare the received data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the remote controller with the datarepresentative of the unique identifier associated with the remotecontroller stored in the memory circuitry; and responsive to a favorablecomparison between the received data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the remote controller with the datarepresentative of the unique identifier associated with the remotecontroller stored in the memory circuitry, autonomously adjust one ormore electrical output parameters of the driver circuitry responsive toreceipt of the electrical load command instruction from the remotecontroller.
 4. The electrical load controller of claim 2, the controllercircuitry to further: receive, from the wireless control device, anelectrical load command instruction that includes the datarepresentative unique identifier associated with the wireless controldevice; compare the received data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device with the datarepresentative of the unique identifier associated with the wirelesscontrol device stored in the memory circuitry; and responsive to afavorable comparison between the received data representative of theunique identifier associated with the wireless control device with thedata representative of the unique identifier associated with thewireless control device stored in the memory circuitry, autonomouslyadjust one or more electrical output parameters of the driver circuitryresponsive to receipt of the electrical load command instruction fromthe wireless control device.
 5. The electrical load controller of claim2, further comprising one or more controllably conductive devicesoperatively coupled to the driver circuitry.
 6. The electrical loadcontroller of claim 2, further comprising: power supply circuitry;inductive coil charging circuitry operatively coupled to the powersupply circuitry and to the controller circuitry.
 7. The electrical loadcontroller of claim 6, further comprising a housing installable in awallbox, the housing disposed at least partially about the electricalload controller, the housing including at least one attachment featureto permit the detachable attachment of the remote controller to thehousing.
 8. The electrical load controller of claim 7 wherein theinductive coil charging circuitry includes inductive coil chargingcircuitry disposed proximate the at least one attachment feature, theinductive coil charging circuitry to provide a wireless transfer ofpower to the remote controller upon the detachable attachment of theremote controller to the housing.
 9. The electrical load controller ofclaim 2, further comprising a lamp base housing, the lamp base housingdisposed at least partially about the electrical load controller.
 10. Anelectrical load control method, comprising: receiving, by controllercircuitry via communicatively coupled actuator circuitry, an actuatorinput to place the electrical load control device in an associationmode; receiving, by the controller circuitry via communicatively coupledwireless communication circuitry, a remote controller associationmessage from a remote controller, the remote controller associationmessage including data representative of at least one unique identifierassociated with the remote controller; storing, by the controllercircuitry in communicatively coupled memory circuitry, datarepresentative of an association between the electrical load controllerand the remote controller, the stored data including the datarepresentative of the at least one unique identifier associated with theremote controller; receiving a device association command from theremote controller via the wireless communications circuitry to place theelectrical load control device in the association mode; receiving, bythe controller circuitry via the wireless communication circuitry, awireless control device association message from a wireless controldevice, the wireless control device association message including datarepresentative of at least one unique identifier associated with thewireless control device; and storing, by the controller circuitry in thecommunicatively coupled memory circuitry, data representative of anassociation between the electrical load controller and the wirelesscontrol device, the stored data including the data representative of theat least one unique identifier associated with the wireless controldevice.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving, bythe controller circuitry from the remote controller, an electrical loadcommand instruction that includes the data representative uniqueidentifier associated with the remote controller; comparing, by thecontroller circuitry, the received data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the remote controller with the datarepresentative of the unique identifier associated with the remotecontroller stored in the memory circuitry; and causing, by thecontroller circuitry, communicatively coupled driver circuitry toautonomously adjust one or more electrical output parameters responsiveto receipt of the electrical load command instruction from the remotecontroller responsive to a favorable comparison between the receiveddata representative of the unique identifier associated with the remotecontroller with the data representative of the unique identifierassociated with the remote controller stored in the memory circuitry.12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving, by thecontroller circuitry from the wireless control device, an electricalload command instruction that includes the data representative uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device; comparing, bythe controller circuitry, the received data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device with the datarepresentative of the unique identifier associated with the wirelesscontrol device stored in the memory circuitry; and causing, by thecontroller circuitry, communicatively coupled driver circuitry toautonomously adjust one or more electrical output parameters responsiveto receipt of the electrical load command instruction from the wirelesscontrol device responsive to a favorable comparison between the receiveddata representative of the unique identifier associated with thewireless control device with the data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device stored in thememory circuitry.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein causing thecommunicatively coupled driver circuitry to autonomously adjust the oneor more electrical output parameters further comprises: causing, by thecontroller circuitry, communicatively coupled driver circuitry toautonomously adjust a pulse duration of a pulse width modulated (PWM)signal provided by the driver circuitry to an operatively coupledelectrical load device.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein causing thecommunicatively coupled driver circuitry to autonomously adjust the oneor more electrical output parameters further comprises: causing, by thecontroller circuitry, communicatively coupled driver circuitry toautonomously transition between an electrically conductive state and anelectrically non-conductive state.
 15. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising: detecting, by the control circuitry, a detachable attachmentof the remote controller to a housing disposed at least partially aboutthe control circuitry; and providing, by the control circuitry, power toan inductive charging coil to wirelessly transfer power to the remotecontroller responsive to the detection of the detachable attachment ofthe remote controller to the housing.
 16. A non-transitory,machine-readable, storage device that includes instructions that whenexecuted by controller circuitry disposed in an electrical loadcontroller, cause the controller circuitry to: receive, viacommunicatively coupled actuator circuitry, an actuator input to placethe electrical load control device in an association mode; receive, viacommunicatively coupled wireless communication circuitry, a remotecontroller association message from a remote controller, the remotecontroller association message including data representative of at leastone unique identifier associated with the remote controller; cause astorage in communicatively coupled memory circuitry, of datarepresentative of an association between the electrical load controllerand the remote controller, the stored data including the datarepresentative of the at least one unique identifier associated with theremote controller; receive, via the communicatively coupled wirelesscommunication circuitry from the remote controller, an instruction toplace the electrical load control device in the association mode;receive, via the wireless communication circuitry, a wireless controldevice association message from a wireless control device, the wirelesscontrol device association message including data representative of atleast one unique identifier associated with the wireless control device;and cause a storage in communicatively coupled memory circuitry, of datarepresentative of an association between the electrical load controllerand the wireless control device, the stored data including the datarepresentative of the at least one unique identifier associated with thewireless control device.
 17. The non-transitory, machine-readable,storage device of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed bycontroller circuitry disposed in an electrical load controller, furthercause the controller circuitry to: receive, from the remote controller,an electrical load command instruction that includes the datarepresentative unique identifier associated with the remote controller;compare the received data representative of the unique identifierassociated with the remote controller with the data representative ofthe unique identifier associated with the remote controller stored inthe memory circuitry; and cause communicatively coupled driver circuitryto autonomously adjust one or more electrical output parametersresponsive to receipt of the electrical load command instruction fromthe remote controller responsive to a favorable comparison between thereceived data representative of the unique identifier associated withthe remote controller with the data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the remote controller stored in the memorycircuitry.
 18. The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device ofclaim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by controller circuitrydisposed in an electrical load controller, further cause the controllercircuitry to: receive, from the wireless control device, an electricalload command instruction that includes the data representative uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device; compare thereceived data representative of the unique identifier associated withthe wireless control device with the data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device stored in thememory circuitry; and cause communicatively coupled driver circuitry toautonomously adjust one or more electrical output parameters responsiveto receipt of the electrical load command instruction from the wirelesscontrol device responsive to a favorable comparison between the receiveddata representative of the unique identifier associated with thewireless control device with the data representative of the uniqueidentifier associated with the wireless control device stored in thememory circuitry.
 19. The non-transitory, machine-readable, storagedevice of claim 18 wherein the instructions that cause the controllercircuitry to cause the communicatively coupled driver circuitry toautonomously adjust the one or more electrical output parameters furthercause the controller circuitry to: cause the communicatively coupleddriver circuitry to autonomously adjust a pulse duration of a pulsewidth modulated (PWM) signal provided by the driver circuitry to anoperatively coupled electrical load device.
 20. The non-transitory,machine-readable, storage device of claim 18 wherein the instructionsthat cause the controller circuitry to cause the communicatively coupleddriver circuitry to autonomously adjust the one or more electricaloutput parameters further cause the controller circuitry to: cause thecommunicatively coupled driver circuitry to autonomously transitionbetween an electrically conductive state and an electricallynon-conductive state.
 21. The non-transitory, machine-readable, storagedevice of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by controllercircuitry disposed in an electrical load controller, further cause thecontroller circuitry to: detect a detachable attachment of the remotecontroller to a housing disposed at least partially about the controlcircuitry; and cause provision of power to an inductive charging coil towirelessly transfer power to the remote controller responsive to thedetection of the detachable attachment of the remote controller to thehousing.